Courage and persistence aplenty in finalists

Julia Charity

Four Bay of Plenty businesses have been named as national finalists in The David Awards for 2015.

The awards recognise the unsung heroes in home and small businesses throughout New Zealand.

Morshead Law, in Rotorua and Physiofamily from Papamoa are finalists in the Most Outstanding Lifestyle Business for their work in epitomising the ability to use technology to integrate business and lifestyle.

Tauranga-based Oku - NZ Native Herbal products and Rotorua company Look After Me, an online market place for accommodation, were named as finalists for the Most Outstanding Triumph over Adversity, in recognition for success in spite of challenges beyond the usual.

Julia Charity, of Look After Me, is also a finalist for The Solo Meo Award, which recognises a business owner who runs their business single-handedly. Her company was recently named as finalist in the New Zealand Innovation Awards in the Marketing and Communications Category.

Dr Charity said it was humbling to be recognised in the forefront of entrepreneurship and innovation in New Zealand.

"It's taken every ounce of courage, persistence and determination I can muster," she said. The number of entries increased by 27 per cent this year.

"It's not just the number of entries, though, which is gratifying, it's the variety and quality of those entries," said awards founder Heather Douglas.

Judges Glenn Smith, Glenn Baker, Pam Martin, Sandra Crosby and Brian Meredith said they were impressed with this year's entries. A standout attribute of the majority of the entrants was the courage and persistence they showed, especially when facing challenges, they said. And it was also heartening to see previous entrants who had not been successful entering again and being named finalists, along with first-time submissions.

The finalists will put together a presentation for the judges showcasing their businesses, with the winners to be announced on October 8.